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{{Short description|British television newsreader (born 1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Babita Sharma
| image = babita sharma 2021 1.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Sharma in 2021
| birth_name = Babita Sharma
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1977|4}}
| birth_place = [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Berkshire]], [[England]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| education = [[University of Wales]] (BA)
| occupation = [[Journalist]], [[News presenter]]
| employer = [[BBC]]
| alias =
| title =
| family =
| spouse = Adam Patterson
| children = 1
| relatives =
| networth =
| credits = {{plainlist|
*[[BBC Radio Wales]]
*[[Thames Valley Television]]
*[[Channel 4 FM]]
*[[Ajman|Ajman TV]]
*[[BBC Radio Berkshire]]
*[[Spotlight Channel Islands]]
*[[BBC News (British TV channel)|BBC News]]
*[[BBC World News]]
*[[Newsday (programme)|Newsday]]
*[[World News Today]]
*''[[GMT (programme)|GMT]]''
*''[[Impact (TV programme)|Impact with Yalda Hakim]]''
*[[Asia Business Report]]
}}
| agent =
| URL = {{twitter | id=BabitaTV}}
}}

'''Babita Sharma''' (born April 1977)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/2MQC9HuX6giNQPBf0gOncxDc2Iw/appointments/ |title=Babita SHARMA |website=companieshouse.gov.uk/ |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizdb.co.uk/company/corner-shop-media-ltd-10501138/|title = Corner Shop Media Ltd in London, W1W 7LT}}</ref> is a British television [[news presenter|newsreader]] who worked on the domestic BBC News Channel and [[BBC World News]], presenting the [[Newsday (programme)|Newsday]] strand each Monday to Wednesday from London with [[Rico Hizon]] in Singapore. Sharma stopped presenting on BBC News during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12852033|title=BBC News – Newsday|work=bbc.co.uk|date=6 April 2011|accessdate=17 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://travel.asiaone.com/article/destinations/travel-black-book-cross-the-channel-to-jersey|title=Travel Black Book: Cross the Channel to Jersey|first=Jennani|last=Durai|date=4 February 2014|work=The Straits Times|access-date=8 October 2015|via=Travel Asia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211070242/http://travel.asiaone.com/article/destinations/travel-black-book-cross-the-channel-to-jersey|archive-date=11 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Sharma is of [[India]]n descent<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dstv.com/en-za/news/newsdays-babita-sharma-20150806|title=Newsday's Babita Sharma|date=6 August 2015|work=DSTV|access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> and was born in 1977 at the [[Royal Berkshire Hospital]] in [[Reading, Berkshire]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://x.com/babitatv/status/63117328551915520?s=46&t=fHvncVy4KqmaJFSOgyhlKg}}</ref> She has two older sisters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharma |first=Babita |date=2019-05-19 |title=Counter culture: my life growing up in a corner shop |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/may/19/counter-culture-my-life-growing-up-in-a-corner-shop-babita-sharma |access-date=2025-05-02 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> She lived above a number of corner shops around Reading and [[Caversham, Reading|Caversham]] owned by her mother Prem and her father Ved.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781473673243|title=The Corner Shop| access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.renewableuk.com/en/news/renewableuk-news.cfm/bbc-world-news-presenter-to-faciliate-panel-discussions-at-wave-tidal-2014|title=BBC World News Presenter to Facilitate Panel Discussions at Wave and Tidal 2014|date=4 February 2014|work=Renewable UK|access-date=8 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222110703/http://www.renewableuk.com/en/news/renewableuk-news.cfm/bbc-world-news-presenter-to-faciliate-panel-discussions-at-wave-tidal-2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sharma |first=Babita |title=Babita Sharma: pop to the corner shop to take the pulse of modern Britain |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/babita-sharma-pop-to-the-corner-shop-to-take-the-pulse-of-modern-britain-lmgh35r20 |access-date=2022-04-18 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> Her parents came from the [[Punjab]] in [[India]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Babita |date=2019-04-13 |title=Babita Sharma: pop to the corner shop to take the pulse of modern Britain |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/babita-sharma-pop-to-the-corner-shop-to-take-the-pulse-of-modern-britain-lmgh35r20 |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref> her father was born in what is now the [[Pakistan]] side of the Punjab.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How dangerous is the Indian-Pakistan border? 2 presenters reveal what life is really like on the partition line for BBC's Dangerous Borders: a Journey across India and Pakistan {{!}} Radio Times |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/divided-nations-a-snapshot-of-life-on-either-side-of-the-india-pakistan-border/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=www.radiotimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

She attended the [[University of Wales]] and graduated with a degree in journalism, film and broadcasting.

==Career==
After completing her education, Sharma began working with [[BBC Radio Wales]] and [[Thames Valley Television]].<ref name=Bio>{{Cite web|url = https://tvnewsroom.org/babita-sharma/|title = Babita Sharma – Biography and Images|accessdate = 8 October 2015|website = TV Newsroom|date = 13 June 2011|archive-date = 19 October 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201019160003/https://www.tvnewsroom.org/babita-sharma/|url-status = dead}}</ref> She moved to [[Dubai]],<ref name=":0" /> working on radio for [[Channel 4 FM]] and for [[Ajman TV]] where she presented a weekly music programme. She returned to the UK in 2003 and began her BBC career at [[BBC Radio Berkshire]] as a travel presenter and producer. She then moved to the newsroom in Southampton, reporting and producing for [[BBC South Today]]. In 2007 she moved on to BBC [[Spotlight Channel Islands]] working as a video journalist and regular presenter of the evening bulletin.

Sharma transferred to the BBC News Channel in 2008, initially as presenter of the ''Your Money'' programme.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://cablecongress.com/speaker/babita-sharma/|title = Babita Sharma|accessdate = 8 October 2015|website = Cable Congress}}</ref> In early 2009, she assumed the main business role and then moved to the BBC News Channel, BBC One and BBC World News in her current full-time presenting role.<ref name=Bio/> For the BBC World News programme Newsday, which began airing from its new studios on 31 July 2015, Sharma has served as live anchor from the main Broadcasting Centre in London, while Rico Hizon was assigned the main broadcasting role from Singapore.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://audioboom.com/boos/3046958-the-uk-general-election-2015-interview-with-babita-sharma| title=BBC preparing new Singapore studio|date=31 July 2015|accessdate=20 October 2015|publisher= NewscastStudio}}</ref> The "World Travel Market global trends report 2013", which was prepared for the World Travel Market and the Euromonitor International was the subject of a panel debate in which Sharma participated. She observed: "The global economy in 2013 has stabilized compared to 2012 with a 3.1% (gross-domestic-product) growth expected for the year. The [[International Monetary Fund]] predicts a further 3.8% increase during 2014".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Article/12604/6-trends-shaping-global-travel|title=6 trends shaping global travel |date=5 November 2013|access-date=20 April 2018|publisher=Hotel News Now}}</ref>

She appeared on series 3 episode 7 of "Celebrity Eggheads"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08pqjdg |title=Celebrity Eggheads |publisher=BBC |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref> and presented the first two series of Supermarket Secrets with Gregg Wallace.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036q93n |title=Supermarket Secrets |publisher=BBC |access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>

Sharma also hosts various ceremonies, such as the Angel Film Awards at the [[Monaco International Film Festival]] from 2011 to 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.angelfilmawards.com|title=Angel Film Awards 2014|date=7 December 2014|accessdate=8 October 2015|website=Angel Film Awards}}</ref> and the 2012 Wings of Hope Achievement Award ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thewingsofhope.org/2012/04/20/wings-of-hope-achievement-award-ceremony-2012-heroes-heroines-wembley-stadium-19th-of-april-2012|title=Wings of Hope Achievement Award Ceremony 2012|date=19 April 2012|accessdate=8 October 2015|website=WOHAA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114034/http://www.thewingsofhope.org/2012/04/20/wings-of-hope-achievement-award-ceremony-2012-heroes-heroines-wembley-stadium-19th-of-april-2012/|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also moderates panel discussions<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/Article/12604/6-trends-shaping-global-travel|title=6 Trends Shaping Global Travel|last=Mayock|first=Patrick|date=5 November 2013|work=Hotel News Now|accessdate=8 October 2015}}</ref> and speaks at conferences, such as the [[World Travel Market]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hotelnewsnow.com/article/9341/report-highlights-key-hotel-trends-by-region|title=Report Highlights Key Hotel Trends by Region|last=Nand|first=Lisa Francesca|date=9 November 2012|work=Hotel News Now|accessdate=8 October 2015}}</ref> In 2017 made the three part series ''Dangerous Borders: A Journey across Indian & Pakistan'' for [[BBC2]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.historyextra.com/period/modern/the-legacy-of-partition-an-interview-with-babita-sharma/|title=The legacy of partition: an interview with Babita Sharma |accessdate=23 March 2019}}</ref> In December 2016 her documentary ''Booze, Beans & Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop'' was shown on the [[BBC4]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0864zn9|title=Booze, Beans & Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop |accessdate=23 March 2019}}</ref>

Sharma co-hosted the Asian Curry Awards 2018 at the Grosvenor House in London on Sunday 18 November 2018.

Since 2022, Sharma has provided the voice over for the opening of [[Loose Women]], introducing the panellists at the start of each show.

==Personal life==
Sharma is married<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781473673243|title=The Corner Shop |accessdate=23 March 2019}}</ref> to Adam Patterson.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thefoldlondon.com/fold-woman-babita-sharma/?doing_wp_cron=1558104980.1854319572448730468750|title=The Fold Woman: Babita Sharma|accessdate=17 May 2019}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Sharma |first=Babita |author-link=Babita Sharma |user=BabitaTV |number=1271050716371718144 |date=11 June 2020 |title=Incredibly proud of my hubby #AdamPatterson & @DecLawn who wrote & exec produced #TheSalisburyPoisonings. A compelling, emotionally charged drama. On-air from Sunday 14/15/16 June 9pm @BBCOne https://t.co/Juu2DUOKsH |language=en |access-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418134228/https://twitter.com/babitatv/status/1271050716371718144 |archive-date=18 April 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> She gave birth to a daughter in May 2019.<ref>{{cite tweet |last=Sharma |first=Babita |author-link=Babita Sharma |user=BabitaTV |number=1485729442366431236 |date=24 January 2022 |title=May 2020. We celebrated my daughter's first birthday in a lockdown on a zoom to elderly grandparents, extended family & friends because those were the rules. She won't remember it but we will. https://t.co/YhHvKvn8L0 |language=en |access-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504101728/https://twitter.com/babitatv/status/1485729442366431236 |archive-date=4 May 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> They moved to [[Belfast]] in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.essentialsurrey.co.uk/lifestyle/celebrity-interview/babita-sharma-corner-shops/|title=Babita Sharma on why corner shops are the best of British|accessdate=17 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Sharma |first=Babita |author-link=Babita Sharma |user=BabitaTV |number=1493203384907747328 |date=14 February 2022 |title=And just like that. #MovingDay #BelfastReady https://t.co/Wj5OraIKSr |language=en |access-date=4 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306220454/https://twitter.com/babitatv/status/1493203384907747328 |archive-date=6 March 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Publications==
*''The Corner Shop: Shopkeepers, the Sharmas and the making of modern Britain'' (18 April 2019)<ref>{{cite book
| title = The Corner Shop: Shopkeepers, the Sharmas and the making of modern Britain
| publisher = [[Two Roads]]
| id = {{ASIN|1473673224|country=uk}}
}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|4647246}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Babita}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Wales]]
[[Category:English women journalists]]
[[Category:English women television presenters]]
[[Category:Mass media people from Reading, Berkshire]]
[[Category:People from Caversham, Reading]]
[[Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists]]
[[Category:BBC World News]]
[[Category:English people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:English expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]

Babita Sharma - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:36, 22 March 2026